Photography is one of the most lucrative career paths one can choose. However, the profession comes with several challenges that make it hard for many people to succeed. Despite the challenges, there are many photographers around the world majoring in different fields. The presence of many photographers makes it hard to determine which one is best suited for a certain job. When choosing a photographer, educational background is among the least important factors I would look at. Many self-taught photographers can do excellent work so don’t judge people by their qualifications. If you’re happy with the photos that your photographer has shot, it’s important that you consider tipping them for their efforts (visit Son of Rambow to learn more). Photographers often don’t charge enough for their hard work so if you’ve had a good experience, a tip would be greatly appreciated. Anyway, here are some aspects I look at when assessing a photographer for a job.
Creativity and Imagination
Photography is a form of art. Therefore, it requires creative thinking and a lot of imagination. Before giving out a job, I ensure the photographer can interpret my ideas and express them as a photo. Additionally, a photographer should be able to come up with different ways to present an idea as a photo. Creative photographers help me interpret subjects from a different perspective through photos. To judge their creativity, I go through their previous work. This is either through catalogs sent to me by the photographer or on different platforms where they publish their work.
An eye for Detail
A photograph is more than just the subject. To achieve the desired message, a photographer needs to pay attention to details that enhance the photo. If you have hired a photographer for a personalized photoshoot, they should be able to take excellent portrait photography and candid photos. They should be efficient at controlling the details including lighting, composition, storytelling, and emotion to capture the right details. As for me, I work closely with the photographer to ensure the directing and editing processes align with my target.
Patience and Flexibility
Not everything works according to the plan during a photography session. Therefore, before hiring a photographer, I ensure they can adapt to unforeseen changes. In some cases, the weather might change abruptly and force us to change the location or wait until it is clear enough for a photography session. Such scenarios require the photographer to be flexible enough to change their schedules when need be. Patience allows the photographer to take as many photos as possible before we get the perfect shot. In some cases, the subject might require to be taken slowly through the poses they need to make until they get it right.
Good People Skills
Professional photographers have to work with different people; these could be clients, models, directors, or even fellow photographers. Having good people skills makes it easy to coordinate activities between the photographer and other people working on the project. I prefer working with friendly and open-minded photographers because they speak out when they have ideas that could make work easier or better. For instance, a good photographer can as well act as a director. Businesses like Naba Zabih Photography will tell you that people skills are vital when taking wedding photos. You may have to communicate with the bride and groom, as well as some other important wedding guests.
Proper Equipment
Other than skills and personality, having proper equipment also determines how good a photographer is. After coming up with the concepts of a photograph, I always look out for equipment that could work best to bring it to life. You can only get quality photographs if you use the right equipment. The photographer should have adequate knowledge of operating the equipment. Procedures such as changing lenses during the shoot require precision to avoid breakages. Additionally, a photographer should be equipped with spare pieces of equipment or know how to fix them in case they break down during the shoot. Photography equipment is very expensive. Therefore, investing in equipment shows how passionate a photographer is and guarantees excellent work.
There are many other factors that make a good photographer. These include affordability and ability to beat deadlines. There are different types of photography. Thus, the qualities of a photographer might vary depending on their specific subfield. However, those mentioned above are general qualities that cut across all forms of photography.